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M.J. Williams -
Vocal
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The Montana
Scene
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M.J. Williams is a
Montana native, second generation trombonist and vocalist.
She started sitting in with local jazz players at age sixteen.
In 1986 she received a Montana Arts Council fellowship grant
to spend three months in New York City where she audited
classes with Sheila Jordan at City College and went to clubs
and concerts. In 1987 she produced an album of jazz standards
and was a featured performer in the New York City Women in
Jazz Concert at the Universal Jazz Coalition. Later that year
she performed at the National Women's Music Festival and moved
to Seattle where she attended Cornish College and studied with
Jay Clayton, Julian Priester and performed regularly with
Randy Halberstadt and Phil Sparks. |
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Since returning to Montana in 1991 she has been
performing steadily, returning to Seattle for
the Bumbershoot Festival with the trio Threeform
with whom she co-produced two CD's. She is a
founding member of the Montana Artists Refuge, a
residency program for visual artists, writers
and musicians. In 1999 the M.J. Williams Trio
produced their first CD entitled "I Can Hear
Your Heart". In 2000 Williams performed on and
co-produced a CD with New York
composer/pianist/vocalist Cynthia Hilts. This CD
was a pilot project focusing on rural/urban
collaboration. Since 2001 Williams has continued
to work with The M.J. Williams Trio and The
Williams, Roberti, White Trio, releasing the CD
"Driving At Night" which was favorably reviewed
in the Paris jazz magazine "Jazz Hot". For the
last three years Williams has performed in Paris
at Le Sept Lezard, a legendary jazz club with
The Jobic LeMasson Trio and The Joe Makholm
Quintet. Williams continues to perform with her
trio as well as The Kelly Roberti Sextet.
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